When people think of Britain in the 1800s, they often think of the technological and scientific advancements of the emerging empire. What they do not think of immediately are the improvements in art techniques that dramatically changed British society and its depiction on canvas.
The British Watercolor exhibit, Drawing With a Brush: British Watercolors,"" currently being held at the Chazen Museum of Art, highlights the unique technique of watercolor and the expanding variety of pigments that capture mood and emotion in ways that oil painting at times cannot.
Watercolor allows for the artist to depict scenes of exploration, accomplishments, pastimes and pleasures in an innovative, new way. John Austen Fitzgerald's painting, ""The Intruder,"" exemplifies the fanciful creativity that watercolor artists experimented with. The painting looks like a cross between ""The Frog Prince"" fairytale and the forest creatures of ""A Midsummer Night's Dream.""
While some of the paintings dabble in whimsical imagery, others, like Marie Spartali Stillman's ""La Pensierosa,"" feature a portrait subject common to other painting styles. The artist paints the young girl with soft, fluid brushstrokes that model the smoothness of the flesh and fabrics, as well as the femininity of the subject's face. The absence of harsh, sharp lines is characteristic of the watercolor technique. The viewer is drawn into the image through the large eyes that gaze longingly into the distance. The artist is able to capture the emotion behind the girl's thoughts through the gentle application of color.
For those who thought first of Britain's exploration and expansion during the 1800s, Owen Jones's painting, ""A Design for the Exhibition Building Manchester,"" is a visual depiction of the emphasis on the arts during this time period. The artist's ability to illustrate other paintings at an art show in such detail shows the skill involved in mastering watercolor.
The brushstrokes in each painting can be singled out, and yet there is a strong cohesiveness of the overall image. The fluid motion of color in Henry Moore's ""Seascape"" contrasts with the detailed figures of William Alexander's ""Chinese Military Post on the River Eu Ho, 19th October 1793.""
The fluid movement of pigments on canvas allow for a more expressive depiction of life that reflected the changing attitudes of Britain's citizens. As the country prospered through technological advancements, artists were able to portray traditional depictions of expansion and exploration along with fanciful scenes that marks the period's unique artistic progress.
""Drawing With a Brush"" tracks the development of a major art movement in British history that has had lasting effects on the art world as a whole. Much like the dots of a pointillist painting, each stroke is important in producing a recognizable image. Viewers can get a sense of the mood and emotion in each painting that has been captured and produced by skillful artists who mastered the art of watercolor.
